Inside the Fluid Design of a Concept Store
The Incantalia concept store embodies a vision where craftsmanship, architecture, and enogastronomic excellence converge.
As the latest turnkey project of Il Polo del Gusto by Riccardo Illy, this space is a curated expression of refinement, offering an exquisite selection of culinary delights and evoking the essence of luxury lifestyle furniture.
Architecture in Motion
Fluidity defines its design. Visitors are guided intuitively through a spatial composition where form and experience are intertwined. A sculptural shelving structure, composed of continuous concave and convex curves, extends from floor to ceiling, embracing the perimeter in a flowing architectural gesture. This precision-crafted system ensures that every feature contributes to a cohesive and refined whole.
Constructed from modular components, the framework integrates a curved base acting as a container, an upper cladding that follows its arc toward the ceiling, and three sculpted shelves. Discreet LED lighting at eye level enhances each display, transforming every product into an art object within a context of designer furniture sensibility.
The store is enveloped in a monochromatic palette rendered in a bio-ecological finish, matched to the brand’s signature orange hue. The result is an immersive setting where tactile materials and visual rhythm create a deeply engaging, sensorial environment.
A Complete Design Language
A luxurious Murano chandelier, an elegantly curved counter, an embracing sofa, and cylindrical A luxurious Murano chandelier, an elegantly curved counter, an embracing sofa, and cylindrical display pedestals complete the scene—each item carefully selected as part of a wider contract furniture approach, where every component reflects deliberate artistry and meaning.
This project truly inspired us: the fluid dialogue between forms and the clarity of lines achieved here not only embody Riccardo Illy’s vision but also enrich the language of retail store design, elevating the space into a realm where beauty, precision, and the pursuit of excellence converge.
Behind the scenes, in Trieste, coffee is more than a beverage—it is ritual, identity, and living heritage. The city, historically linked to the coffee trade, has nurtured a unique and deeply rooted culture. Its literary cafés, once frequented by writers and philosophers, remain places where conversation and refinement come together over an espresso.
The Trieste Coffee Code
Here, ordering coffee requires its own dialect.
A straight espresso in a cup? It’s a NERO. In a glass? A NERO IN B. A macchiato in a cup becomes a CAPO, while in a glass, it’s a CAPO IN B. And a cappuccino? Simply CAFFELATTE.
Architect Michael Sorgato, designer of the Incantalia store, recounts his first experience with humor:
“I usually drink my coffee lungo, which in Trieste is practically heresy.
The first time I went to order for the team—craftsmen, site managers, and the client—I asked for a lungo.
The barista immediately tagged me as a “foreigner”. The client looked embarrassed, while one of the local workers couldn’t resist:
‘So, do you like sipping rainwater from the gutter?’
Everyone burst out laughing, and I felt completely out of place.
From that moment on, and for the rest of the project, I only ordered a NERO.”
The Incantalia Concept Store – Featured in “100 Eccellenze Italiane 2024” – Forbes
